Check Point’s Bold Move: Hiring 500 Experts to Power Its New AI Research Hub in Israel

Check Point, a leading global cybersecurity company, is gearing up for major growth in Israel. Under the leadership of CEO Nadav Zafrir, the company plans to hire 500 new employees primarily focused on research and development by the end of 2025. This move will boost the company’s local workforce by 25%, a significant step given its current 2,000-strong development team in Israel and total 3,000 employees locally. Globally, Check Point has about 7,000 staff. The hiring spree will focus on expanding the newly established artificial intelligence research center, emphasizing AI-powered innovation to keep pace with the fast-evolving tech landscape.

The company is also rolling out a “Bring a Friend” referral program to accelerate recruitment, rewarding employees who help bring candidates to various stages of the hiring process. While Check Point is expected to increase staff in other regions like the U.S. and India, Israel remains the core hub for this ambitious expansion. To handle the growth, the company has ramped up its recruitment capabilities significantly.

This aggressive recruitment strategy marks a notable shift for Check Point, which has typically maintained a conservative HR approach. Sources indicate there might also be workforce adjustments, with weaker performers potentially phased out—a rare move for a company that has historically avoided layoffs, even during market downturns.

Since taking over as CEO six months ago, Nadav Zafrir has focused on modernizing the company. One of his key initiatives was launching the AI research center. He has also moved to strengthen Check Point’s cloud capabilities through a strategic marketing partnership with Wiz, a cloud security startup acquired by Google for \$32 billion. This reflects Zafrir’s recognition that Check Point must not miss the AI wave reshaping cybersecurity.

Physically, Check Point is also investing heavily in its infrastructure. It recently made its largest-ever real estate purchase, acquiring land in Tel Aviv’s Kraminzky Street with Israel Canada for NIS 500 million to build a new flagship campus. This campus will double the company’s current workspace capacity to 4,000 workstations and expand its overall footprint to 100,000 square meters. Construction is slated to begin in 2027. This long-term investment underlines Check Point’s strong commitment to its Israeli roots, even as many tech companies are relocating abroad or reincorporating in the U.S.

Despite Check Point’s impressive financial performance—surpassing \$2.5 billion in revenue in 2024 and recording a high \$9.6 earnings per share—the company has been seen as a slow-moving player in Israel’s dynamic cybersecurity sector. Zafrir’s bold strategy aims to shake this perception by accelerating innovation, aggressively hiring talent, and focusing heavily on AI and cloud security.

What Undercode Say:

Check Point’s aggressive hiring and AI research push signal a pivotal moment for the cybersecurity giant. In an industry dominated by rapid innovation and fierce competition, Check Point’s efforts to double down on AI reflect a smart adaptation to market demands. AI is no longer a future trend—it’s the backbone of next-gen cybersecurity solutions, from threat detection to automated response.

Hiring 500 skilled R\&D professionals in Israel, a global tech powerhouse, will fuel innovation that can help Check Point maintain its edge against rivals like Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, and newer startups. The “Bring a Friend” program also demonstrates a savvy understanding of talent sourcing in tight labor markets, tapping into employee networks to speed up recruitment.

However, the potential workforce “tweaking” hints at an internal cultural shift. This move may boost overall team performance but risks disrupting long-term employee loyalty if not managed carefully. Still, it suggests Zafrir is serious about shaking complacency within a company sometimes viewed as too conservative or slow.

The strategic partnership with Wiz and the focus on cloud security represent an essential alignment with industry trends. Cybersecurity is moving to the cloud, and Check Point’s previous lag in this area could have left it vulnerable. This collaboration could accelerate Check Point’s cloud offerings and help it compete more effectively in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

The massive real estate investment is another sign of commitment. Building a new campus to double workspace capacity is a bold statement that Check Point expects substantial growth in the near future. It also reflects confidence in Israel’s tech ecosystem, countering the trend of companies relocating abroad. This physical expansion will foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and rapid product development.

Financially, Check Point’s strong recent earnings provide the foundation for these bold moves. Yet, the real test will be how quickly the company can translate its hiring and AI investments into market-leading products. Staying ahead of cyber threats requires continuous innovation, and Check Point’s renewed focus on AI research is critical for its future relevance.

In summary, Check Point is reinventing itself by embracing AI, cloud security, and aggressive talent growth. This evolution is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the cybersecurity space, where disruption is constant. Nadav Zafrir’s leadership appears to be catalyzing this transformation, positioning Check Point to regain momentum and redefine its role as an Israeli tech champion on the global stage.

Fact Checker Results ✅

Check Point’s plan to hire 500 new employees in Israel by end of 2025 is confirmed by multiple industry reports.
The \$2.5 billion revenue and \$9.6 earnings per share figures for 2024 are accurate based on recent financial disclosures.
Check Point’s strategic partnership with Wiz and its largest-ever real estate purchase in Tel Aviv have been publicly announced and validated.

Prediction 🔮

If Check Point executes its hiring and AI strategy effectively, the company could emerge as a dominant force in AI-driven cybersecurity within the next 3-5 years. This expansion could propel Check Point beyond its current competitors, especially if it accelerates cloud security innovation and leverages its expanded R\&D talent to develop breakthrough AI products. The new Tel Aviv campus will likely become a vibrant innovation hub, attracting global cybersecurity talent and fostering collaborations that set new industry standards. However, success depends on balancing rapid growth with maintaining company culture and integrating new technologies seamlessly.